Bargain shopping overload!
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| Fri, 04-16-2010 - 3:27pm |
I've spent the whole day doing laundry! UGH! I think I might possibly be on my 8th load by now and I still have 2 more Large Full baskets to go (which means I have another 3 loads to do). That doesn't include bedding either. Keep in mind that I do 1 load a day to try and keep up too! Oh My LOrd! I've always known that I'm a compulsive clothing shopper, but now that I'm trying to downsize it's really becoming apparent! After doing some quick calculations, it appears that I've spent $2,733 dollars on clothing purchases since I started tracking my money in quicken back in October 2008 (1 1/2 years ago) and that isn't completely accurate because I've probably put some purchases on credit cards and then classified the purchase as debt repayment. So that means I spend on average $150 dollars a month on clothing. For some people that may be reasonable, but for someone like me who could really use that money elsewhere and on top of that, doesn't need the clothing...it's a little pathetic. What makes it more pathetic is that I do not buy anything full price...really, ever! I can't even buy a shirt for my kids unless it's under $5. I won't purchase jeans unless they are under $10 and I shop at brand name stores so I'm scouring the clearance racks on the days they offer %10 off. Even the sales ladies comment on the deals I get. It's like a high for me. When I find an awesome deal, it's really hard to pass up. I mean...a Gap t-shirt for $2.99. Who could pass that up? But sometimes I need to say NO!
So right now, I'm going through all of our clothes, even the ones in storage because I'm going to be moving my bins over to my moms shed and I've decided that I'm going to really take stock of what I have. I'm only allowing myself to keep a certain amount of items. For instance, if I have 7 pairs of pants in size 5...Why? What kid needs 7 pairs of pants? So I'm giving myself a limit of what I can keep, and then I'm going to write down how many of each thing I have and keep a list in my purse so that the next time I'm out shopping for ridiculous deals, I'm not going to pick up ANOTHER pair of jeans in size 5!
And on top of that, I've got to stop the clothing madness. I have to come up with a reasonable budget for clothing and STICK to it!!!!!!!!! It's hard because I have to keep my eye out for deals, it's the only way I can afford to keep my kids in clothing and I'm always buying things on clearance in the next size up or for the next season. If I stop looking, I'll end up being stuck next winter with kids who have no jackets and at that point the jackets will be full price. Just the other day I got gloves at $3 dollars a pair for next winter. But there has to be some kind of limit. I only need so much clothing and when I don't keep track of what I have, I end up with too much of everything!
To help me out, can you answer these questions:
How much do you spend on clothing and how do you organize yourself or stop yourself from overdoing it when you see great deals! Especially if you have multiple kids and are trying to keep track of hand-me-downs and at the same time supplement what they need here and there without breaking the bank.






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I know you have three boys. I have two. For the life of me I can't understand how you even have hand me downs from the older ones. Once my oldest turned about 5 or 6 he pretty much ruined every article of clothing he wore(especially any kind of pants). I do suppose I have kept jackets but even those have worn out and I have thrown them out. I stitched by hand two parkas last winter in the arms inside the jackets. I am not buying Gap clothes either I guess, so those would last longer but I think the reason I don't is because my kids would destroy those too!
I have a few shirts at home that my youngest has grown out of that I need to donate. But I never have 7 pairs of anything for any of them. My ex buys clothes and I buy clothes. I just buy them when they are needed, because A. if I buy it the season before the child will grow a foot(this has happened) and it doesn't fit and B. if my ex buys it as well we have doubles and I could use the cash for something else. So I suppose I am a minimalist in this category. For myself.....I buy something if I need it and not the season before because it could go out of style and I usually forget about the item so it must have not been all that important to begin with.
My Bf will wear work shirts until they have holes in them and sometimes those are his favorites and he wears those over the newer ones anyway. LOL! I buy him dress clothes for birthdays and holidays for his day job. I have started buying my oldest cool t-shirts for holidays too as he has grown out of the toy phase(13 years old)
I do buy extra gloves & hats at the dollar store if the kids forget their good stuff at school.
I guess we are different in this area and you are on the right track with making a list. I would say this list may not be of much help unless your buckets are labeled and you keep everything very current and updated.
I also think you should get together with your friends and have a clothing swap. Then you can get rid of what you don't need and maybe get some things you do need.
As for shopping, really ask yourself if the item is needed. Just because it is on sale doesn't mean you need it if it is going to go into storage and take up space for 18 months.
Good luck!
I know how you feel. I am a big clothes horse! I went really crazy when my second child was born 8 years ago. I went up a size and needed new things. Then I added shoes and purses. And I was constantly buying for the kids.
One tip that has really helped me is to stop being so impulsive. If I see an item I really like but know I don't need, I leave the store. If I still want it a day or so later and can afford it I'll go back and get it. That doesn't solve the problem of reducing inventory, but in almost all cases I don't go back. The urge to have the item subsides if I leave and focus on something else.
I like the idea of making a list and at the same time, try making a list of things you could do other than shopping. That helps me sometimes.
Good luck! I know what it's like to find super deals and not be able to turn them down.
I used to do the same thing with my oldest.
I have 3 boys as well and clothes are complicated with boys! The two oldest are only 12 months apart so they can wear the same size shirts which always help but the pants are a lost cause. ODS is wearing a pair of pants I got on clearence at Childrens Place that looked really sturdy but have got holes in the knees 2 months later. For the most part though by the time the clothes get to the youngest the older two have stained and torn and generally grubbed them up so much that they are good for nothing more than the rag bag.
My budget is $50 a month. Usually I go 2 or 3 months without buying anything and then will find a good sale that I can then use a lump sum for. This seems like a lot to me but the way my kids wear through clothes this seems to be the average cost. Plus the cost of keeping DH in the to which he has grown accustomed isn't cheap lol!
To stop from going overboard I really do try and keep things to a minumum. Each kid has 3 pair of regular jeans, 1 pair of church pants
I don't have kids so my answer may not help so much...but for me, the Salvation Army thrift is across the street from my work. I go there all the time on my lunch just to get away from my office.
I made a deal with myself about three years ago that I wouldn't spend more than $3 on something unless it was great.
For the kids, I would suggest Lands End clearance in the online overstocks. Wait for free shipping promos, they are a regular occurrence now with the lousy economy. You can get really good stuff for cheap.
As for my own clothes, I guess I am obsessive and comulsive...There's a pair of pants identical to the ones I have been wearing to work for ages, same size, different great colour. They've been there for days and I am hankering after them but I want to start wearing spring clothes and I want to be a smaller size by the fall.
I guess I just wanted to chime in and say I know how hard it is to downsize with clothing (and most things really)
I feel you Abbie, Now that I have 2 girsl that are 4 and almost 2 I feel like every season we have to evaluate, pull, donate, save, and throw. I hate throwing away things that are stained or a little worn but I feel like no one will want them. I want to find a way that I could reuse things like make a quilt or a rag
Liz
student loan paid off 2010
Bathroom remodel loan paid off 2013
Pending Car loan to be paid by the end of 2014!!!!!
Oh my! The clothing stories of kids.
My budget is $75-100 per year, per person for clothing.
Abbie that amount really doesn't sound that high for a family of 5, especially with three growing boys.
I allot around $50 a month and I haven't really tracked it down to the penny.
Good luck down sizing.
Norma
"Patience is the best remedy for every trouble"- Plautus
Norma
"Patience is the best remedy for every trouble"- Plautus
I am very impressed. $75-$100 per year for clothes? Wow. I spent that much on underwear in January or February. That will last a long time and I needed it.
I think I should try to follow your lead. I shop for fun. I could do so many other things if I followed your example. Thanks for posting.
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